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Farmington Gardens to open downtown Hillsboro location

Second location to open later this month in downtown Hillsboro, with grand opening Nov. 16.

Popular garden center Farmington Gardens plans to open a new retail location in downtown Hillsboro this month, after more than two decades in the Farmington area.

For years, the nursery has been a go-to spot outside of Hillsboro to purchase flowers, shrubbery or other backyard essentials. But company officials say a new retail space in downtown Hillsboro will bring the company's greeneries to locals in Western Washington County.

"It's such a great location for connecting with our community," said Michelle Shepard, a company spokeswoman. "There's not a lot in Forest Grove or Cornelius as far as garden centers go. This was a no brainer for us, and Hillsboro has been really great to us over the years."

The nursery's second location is slated to open Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 334 S.E. Fifth St., in Hillsboro, at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Baseline. A grand opening with giveaway and raffle prizes is planned the following day, Nov. 16.

Shepard said the downtown location will focus on house plants and floral arrangements.

"It will always be changing," Shepard said. "That's the business we're in."

Officials at Farmington Gardens have considered opening a second location for years, Shepard said, and the time was finally right to make it happen.

"We're so remote out here in Farmington that a trip out needs to be an event," she said. "People use it as a destination. They go out and get what they need. We hope the Hillsboro site will be for people who need to make a quick stop on their way home. Maybe they need a centerpiece, or a flower for a friend or a houseplant."

The downtown location is several times smaller than the sprawling Farmington location, Shepard admits. Company officials say the two locations will work in tandem.

"We're trying to decide what needs to be downtown and what people will need to come out to Farmington for," she said. "We probably won't have a lot of the large trees, but flats of annuals and potted plants, or hanging baskets will be there."

Open in time for the holidays, the downtown Hillsboro location will have Christmas trees, wreaths, holiday décor, garlands and other winter necessities, Shepard said.

"We're super excited about it," she said. "We want people to come in, check it out and see what we have."